Double universal connection for vehicle coupling and steering devices



I J. H. HYLER DOUBLE UNIVERSAL CONNECTION FOR VEHICLE June 14,1949. 2,473,375

COUPLING AND STEERING DEVICES Original Filed June 29, 1945 INVENTOR. John .J'inJ-iylez- Patented June 14, 1949 EOUBLE UNIVERSAL CONNECTION FGR VEHICLE COUPLING AND STEERING D'EVI'GE S" John-11. Hyler, North Pekin,.I-ll.,' assignorto Bm G.

Le Tournea-u, Ina, Stockton, Caliii, acorporation of California Originalappli cation June 29', 1945", Serial; No

602184. Dividedand this application September 301l1=948, Serial No. 52,066

This invention is directed to a device adapted for use in a tractor-trailer vehicle combination to couple the tractor to the trailer for power steering relative to the latter, while at the same time permitting of relative lateral tilting between the tractor and trailer as-the-vehicle combination traverses uneven groundthe present application being adivision of application Serial No. 602 1843 filed June 29,. 19495; new Patent No. 2,451,677, granted Oct. 19-, 1948-.

The object of the invention is toincorporate, in atractor-trailer coupling: and power steering device which includes an upstanding tubular member mounted on the tractor for relative lateral tilting movement, driving mechanism comprising anupstanding driven shaft journaled in said tubular member and operative to cause steering of the tractor; a drive-shaftupstanding from the tractor: below andv insubstantial alinement with said drivenshaft, and auniversal connection between said shafts arranged to transmit power to said driven shaftfrom said drive shaft regardless of said relative lateral tilting; the universal connection comprising a pair of vertically spaced universal joints connected together but disposed, respectively, above and below said longitudinal axis of lateral tilting and substantially in the vertical plane of the latter.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

The figure is a sectional elevation of the device as coupled between the tractor and a trailer, showing the type of universal connection in the driving mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the device is adapted to be connected between the deck I at the rear of a tractor and the front end of a rigid, forwardly projecting draft tongue or yoke 2 of a trailer, whereby the tractor is connected in draft and power steerable relation to said trailer; the device comprising the following structure:

A substantially circular base 3 is disposed above the tractor deck I in upwardly facing relation, and said base includes, in spaced relation lengthwise of the tractor, a pair of depending legs 4 including oppositely projecting trunnions 5 which are journaled in connection with rigid upstanding brackets 6 on the deck I. The base 3 is thus mounted for lateral tilting relative to the tractor.

The base 3 is formed, centrally thereof, with 4 Clai'm's.- (Cl. 18 0-7914) an upstanding tubular post T about which a sleeve 8' is turnably' mounted, said sleeve having a rearwardly projecting housing. 9 formed therewith for the enclosure of a portionroi'. the driving mechanism,. as will hereinafter appear. At itsrear end the housing. 9 is. formed with a fiat,.vertical, and normally rearwardly facing attachment plate ill to which a matching plate [I' on the forward" end of the draft tongue or yoke 2 is connected; by means ofbolts I 2. The housing. 9 is so constructed. that it. forms. an enclosed chamber 13 between the sleeve 8 and the attachment plate HF, which chamber extends forwardly over the post I, as indicated at l4'.

The driving mechanism, which is arranged; to cause relative rotation between the post 1 and sleeve 8, and consequently steering of the tractor relative to the trailer comprises. the following:

An upstandingv driven. shaft [5 is journaled within the post T in bearings t6, the upper end of said shaft projecting into the chamber portion l4' and there being fitted with a gear: I T which runs in mesh with another. gear t8 in the chamber l3 adjacent the top thereof The gear I8 is mounted in driving relation to a reversing. gear box f9 rigidly mounted in said. chamber [3, and

gear box-includes a vertical', upwardly projecting shaft 2'0 on. which. the gear i8 is fixed. The gear box also includes a downwardly projecting shaft 2i which extends through the bottom of said gear box, and is there fitted with a pinion 22 which runs in constant mesh with an internal ring gear 23 formed on and upstanding from the periphery of the circular base 3. The ring gear 23 is suitably shielded from above by a hood 24.

While the reversing gear box l9 may be of any suitable type, it is here shown as including a bevel pinion and bevel gear assembly having fluid pressure clutches 25 associated therewith, and through the selective operation of which clutches the shaft 2| may be driven in one direction or the other.

In spaced relation below the circular base 3 the tractor includes an upstanding drive shaft 26 disposed in substantially vertical alinement with the driven shaft I5 in post I; said shafts being coupled together by a universal connection comprising universal joints 2'! and 28 secured to adjacent ends of the shafts 26 and I5, respectively, above and below the longitudinal axis of the trunnions 5 in substantially the vertical plane thereof; said universal joints being connected by means of a spline unit 29.

When the above described device is in operation the drive shaft 26 is driven in one direction, causing rotation of the shaft 20 through the medium of universal connection 21-49, shaft 15, and gears l1 and 18. With shaft 20 rotating, the gear box I9 is controlled, i. e., the clutches 25 are controlled, to cause rotation of the shaft 2| and pinion 22 in one direction or the other, selectively. With rotation of the pinion 22 said pinion and the ring gear 23 move relative to each other, which results in relative rotation between the posts I and sleeve 8, producing steering of the tractor relative to the trailer. By reason of the embodiment of the universal connection 2129 in the driving mechanism, as described, the drive for the power steering operation is, accomplished regardless of the relative lateral tilt between the tractor and the assembly including base 3, post '1, and sleeve 8. The universal connection 2129 effectively imparts the drive of shaft 26 to shaft l even though the latter may be tilted to one side or the other, and also through the spline 29 permits of any desired relative spacing of the deck i and the base 3 without disturbing the driving mechanism of the power steering device.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A tractor-trailer draft coupling and power steering device comprising a pair of cooperating members secured together for relative rotation about an upstanding axis, means adapted to connect one member in fixed relation to the trailer, means adapted to connect the other member to the tractor for unitary lateral tilting of said members relative to said tractor about a longitudinally extending axis, and driving mechanism, including a universal connection, arranged to cause relative rotation between said unitary members regardless of the lateral tilt thereof relative to the tractor; the universal connection including vertically spaced universal joints disposed above and below, but in substantially the vertical plane of, the axis of tilting movement of said members, and means connecting said joints.

2. A tractor-trailer draft coupling and power steering device comprising a pair of cooperating members secured together for relative rotation about an upstanding axis, means adapted to connect one member in fixed relation to the trailer, means adapted to connect the other member to the tractor for unitary lateral tilting of said members relative to said tractor about a longitudinally extending axis, and driving mechanism, including a universal connection, arranged to cause relative rotation between said unitary members regardless of the lateral tilt thereof relative to the tractor; the universal connection including vertically spaced universal joints disposed above and below, but in substantially the vertical plane of, the axis of tilting movement of said members, and an upstanding spline unit connecting said joints.

3. A tractor-trailer draft coupling and power steering device comprising an upstanding post, means adapted to mount the post on the tractor for relative lateral tilting about a longitudinally extending axis, a sleeve rotatably surrounding the post, means adapted to fix the sleeve in connection with the trailer, a driven shaft journaled in the post, driving connections between the shaft and sleeve operative to cause relative rotation of said post and sleeve, a drive shaft upstanding from the tractor in substantially alined relation to but spaced from the driven shaft, universal joints on adjacent ends of said shafts, and means connecting said joints; the joints being disposed in substantially the vertical plane of said longitudinally extending axis but above and below the latter, respectively.

4. A device as in claim 3 in which said universal joint connecting means comprises an upstanding spline unit.

JOHN H. HYLER.

No references cited. 

